Instrument for use of music teachers, &amp;c.



. B. DE BERNYZ.

INSTRUMENT FOR USE OF MUSIC TEACHERS, &c.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.3.19I9.

1,331,053. Patented Feb. 17,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET L,

Fig.1.

INVE/V TOR Afro/Mr B. DE BERNYZ.

INSTRUMENT FOR USE OF MUSIC TEACHERS, 8L0.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.3. 1919. 1,331,053. Patented Feb. 17,1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4/ INVENTOR B. DE BERNYZ.

INSTRUMENT FOR USE OF MUSIC TEACHERS, &c.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3.1918.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mmvron er z Arm/2m BERTRAND DE BERNYZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INSTRUMENT FOR USE OF MUSIC TEACHERS, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 3, 1919. Serial No. 269,495.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTRAND on BERNYZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Instruments for Use of Music Teachers, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an instrument for the use of music teachers, vocalist-s, elocutionists, public speakers, etc.

It is a well-known fact that performers do not hear the identical sound and effect as heard in the auditorium, due mainly to disturbing sound waves and also because they hear the echo of their voices. They are thus unable to detect and correct faults in the pitch, volume and quality of tone of their voices, and also in their accent, pronunciation, etc.

The main object of the invention is to provide an instrument that enables a performer to hear, simultaneously with the production of the sound, substantially the identical sound and effect as heard in the auditorium.

Another object of the invention is to produce an instrument of the character specified, which is simple in construction, eflicient in operation, and which can be worn without inconvenience.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical device of the character specified, the source of electric energy being within the instrument, thereby permitting the performer to change his position, at will, and also allowing the instrument to be used in localities where electric installations are missing.

WVith these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrange ment and construction of parts hereinafter described, pointed out. in the appended claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Two of the many possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in secthe section 20 of the standard tion, of an instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an attachment, an ear muflier, used in connection with the instrument; Fig. 4L is a section taken on line 44: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electric circuit of the instrument; and Fig. 6 is a diagram of a modified circuit.

Referring now first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 10 indicates a plate member, suitably curved or shaped so as to fit the breast of a person. This plate is provided with a neck strap 11, the length of which may be adjusted by the aid of a buckle 12. From this breast plate rises a lug 13, to which is pivoted at 14: a tubular standard 15, the latter carrying at its free end a telephone transmitter 16 of any suitable construction. This transmitter is inserted into an electric circuit, in which is also included a telephone receiver 17 that is adjustably secured to a standard 18, which rises from the breast plate 10.

The standard 15 is made of two metallic sections 19 and 20, which are connected by a ring 21 of electric insulating material, and contain an electric battery 22. The transmitter 16 is connected with the section 19 by a cylindrical piece 23 of insulating material, that is fastended in any suitable manner to the said transmitter and connected with the section 19 of the standard 15, for instance, by providing the said connecting piece with screw threads 24, with which mesh threads 25 on the upper end of the section 19. In a similar manner is provided the lower end of 15 with screw threads 26, meshing with threads 27 of a. cylindrical connecting piece 28, that is made of insulating material and joined by the pivot 14 with the lug 13 above referred to. The pole 29 of the electric battery is connected by a metallic pin30 with one of the terminals of the transmitter 16, from the other terminal of which leads a metallic screw 31, that fastens to the connecting piece 23 a metallic spring 32, the latter being in electric contact with the section 19 of the standard 15. The pole 33 of the bat-- tery 22 contacts with a metallic spring 34, that is fastened by a screw 35 to the connecting piece 28. This last -mentioned screw is in electric contact with a. metallic screw 36, that extends into the connecting piece 28 and clamps to the latter a wire 37, that leads to the terminal 38 of the receiver Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

17. i The other terminal of this receiver, denoted by the numeral 39, is connected by a Wire 40 with the section 20 of the metallic standard 15, a screw 41, extending into the connecting piece 28, clamping the wire 40 to the said section 20.

The two sections of the standard 15 are, as appears from above, insulated from each other, but may be electrically connected by a switch 42, for instance in the form of the blade spring, that is fastened by means of a screw 43 to the section 19 of the standard, its free end being adapted to be forced against the section 20 of the said standard.

' A resilient, bail-shaped strip 44 is adjustably secured to the receiver 17 and extends rearwardly of the said receiver. To this strip is secured an ear muflier 45 spaced from but in registering position with the receiver. This muffler may be made of any suitable material, preferably rubber, and comprises a sheet-like body portion 46 (Figs. 3 and 4), that is provided with a rim 47, fitting around the ear of a person. The sheet has furthermore a plug-like protuberance 48, that is adapted to close the outer ear passage.

In use, the instrument is attached to a person by placing the plate 10 against the breast and the strap 11 around the neck. The length of the strap is then adjusted, so that the transmitter 16 is held at a suitable distance from the mouth, the standard 15 being shifted around its pivot 14 to properly adjust the position of the said transmitter in relation to the mouth of the person. The length of the standard 18 is then fitted to the person, so that the receiver 17 abuts against one of the ears. Finally the length of the bail-shaped strip 44 is caused to fit the back of the head of the person, whereby the muffler 45 engages the other car, the rim 47 of the said muffler extending partially around the ear, whereby external disturbing noises are excluded from the ear.

With the instrument so positioned and the switch 42 in closing position, the person, either singing or talking into the transmitter 16, hears substantially the identical sound or effect produced by the voice, as it is heard in the auditorium, simultaneously with its production. The performer will thus be able to detect and correct faults in accent, phrasing, punctuation, and also in the pitch, volume and quality of tone of the voice, and also such other points which must necessarily be attended to by all who wish to achieve success in the arts of singing, public speaking, etc. The device, of coprse, is not intended to be used by performers, etc., in the presence of the audience, but only in private, during rehearsals, etc.

The switch 42 may be closed for instance by pressing its free end against the section 20 of the standard 15 by one of the hands of the user. When the circuit is so closed, the electric current passes from the pole 29 of the battery through the pin 30 to the electro-magnet of the transmitter 16, and from the other pole of this electro-magnet through the screw 31 and spring 82 to the section 19 of the standard. From this section the current passes through the switch 42 to the section 20, and from this section through the wire 40 to the terminal 39 of the electro-magnet in the receiver 17. From the terminal 38 the current flows through the wire 37 to the screw 36, and through the screw 35 and spring 34 to the pole 33 of the battery.

A modification of the instrument is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6 of the drawings, comprising a base 49, on which is mounted a transmitter 16, into the orifice of which is fitted a trumpet 50, that is supported by said base. The transmitter 16 is included in an electric circuit 51, containing a battery 52, a switch 58 and a receiver 17. This receiver is fitted with the strip 4-4 and muffler 45 in the same manner as the device shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The operation of this device does not differ materially from the one above described, the only difference being that the transmitter 16 with its trumpet 50 is placed at a considerable distance from the performer, say for instance into the auditorium, so that the performer may use the instrument in the presence of an audience, the receiver 17 and the parts connected thereto being preferably made of such dimensions that they are not easily perceptible from the auditorium. Of course, the instrument may also be used for rehearsals, etc.

To the. standard 15 (Fig. 1) may be pivoted at 54 a bracket 55, to which, in turn, is pivoted at 56 a mirror 57. The performer, when practising, may watch in this mirror the formation of his-lips, etc., essential to obtain proper modulation of the voice.

What I claim is: V

An instrument of the character described, comprising a breast plate to be attached to the wearer, a hollow standard made of two insulated sections pivoted thereto, said sections being made of electricity-conducting material, a telephone transmitter carried by said standard in operative relation to the mouth of the wearer, a telephone receiver on said plate. in operative relation .to one of the ears of the wearer, an electric battery within said standard, a circuit including said transmitter, receiver, battery and standard, and a switch on said standard for bridging over the gap between the two sections thereof.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 20th day of December, A. D. 1918.

BERTRAND DE BERNYZ. 

